Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Tuesday A.M. Lead Storyline:Kevin Durant Turning Pro

For today's usual Quickie, see the next post down (or click here). Meanwhile, here is today's biggest storyline:

Kevin Durant turning pro: Durant was the most talented college player last season.

He was the most dominant freshman ever, at least if you believe the awards (Carmelo Anthony fans from Syracuse might beg to differ). He inspired the hottest debate of the basketball season, college or pro, summed up in three words: "Oden or Durant?" He is a lock to be, at worst, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft (No. 1 if Oden somehow decides to stay in school, which he won't).

Here's the question: Exactly what kind of NBA player will Durant be? I agree with those who think he is destined to be a perennial All-Star; I disagree with those who think he will somehow "redefine" the forward position in the NBA.

As far as I can tell, he possesses a game remarkably similar to Dirk Nowitzki. Given that Dirk arrived in the NBA a decade ago, I'd say that "redefining the position" thing goes to Dirk. At best, Durant can be "the next Nowitzki."

But Durant has to be the No. 1 guy on his team to be that All-Star. He'll need those 15-20 shots a game. That's why WHERE he plays will be as important as HOW he plays.

Consider his fate if he ends up in, say, Boston. Unless Danny Ainge is willing to trade Paul Pierce, do you think Pierce is going to be willing to step aside as the team's designated gunner for some rookie? (Let me answer that: Not bloody likely.)

In that case, Kevin Durant will simply be "the next" Rashard Lewis – a very skilled, very tall jump-shooter, but at best a complimentary player, stuck behind a lead scorer who is never going to concede his role as the team's star.

No matter who drafts Durant, I hope that they do what it takes – trading existing stars, if necessary – to ensure that Durant is The Man from Day One. (Yes, I know that Dirk was brought along slowly, but Durant is way beyond where Dirk was at this age.)

It's the only way Durant will even come close to fulfilling this potential that everyone agrees is worth oohing over.

-- D.S.

Update: I was just reading Henry Abbott's original coverage of the news from yesterday. Money aside (and there's really no other reason as compelling to turn pro), it sounds like Durant would rather stay in college another year, because he's enjoying it. I wonder if that would affect him during the NBA's grind next year? It's a downside of the NBA's draconian age-limit policy: "Force" a kid to go to college for a year, but then just when he starts to enjoy the experience, effectively force him to turn pro (using impossible-to-turn-down financial incentives). But the NBA got what it wanted from him last year -- a year of free exposure to hype him to fans.

20 comments:

How about Kevin Durant is the next Kevin Durant? I now that everyone loves comparing people, but I think its pretty dumb. How many "next Jordan's" have their been?

I think Durant and Pierce can coexist. Pierce and Walker were able to do it for the most part. It might be best for Durant to come in and have another superstar with him for a couple of years. That might take some of the pressure off him to be "the man" because he is going to have super high impossible expectations coming in. If he is alongside a Pierce maybe he won't try to live up to those expectations.

I just can't help but think that he's going to get pushed around. The kid looks flimsier than tayshaun prince when he went to the NBA.

He may well end up being an all-star, but not because he's that much better of a talent...but because, if you notice, a lot of the great NBAers are..old. AI, Kobe, KG, Nash, Shaq...lots of others, could be outta here in 5 years. (or not)

he is not the next anything adn no one has redefined the foward position ever. Remmeber tim thomas, even though kg was grat he did not redefine the position because there is no one else like him. Durant will be a great player, but he is not going to redefine the position.

That destroys the Titans next year. They better hope that Ginn drops to them at 19 because their return game is going to be dreadful next year. It obviously also hurts the secondary because he was on his way to becoming a good cover corner. This is huge because the Titans did not make any huge splashes in free agency and the best corner in the draft is Leon Hall and he is a top 10 guy.

The Celtics need Greg Oden, not Durant or anyone else for that matter.

Gerald Green and Paul Pierce should be fine at the 2 & 3 spots along with Delonte West,Tony Allen and let's not forget Wally Szczerbiak.

What this team needs is another big man in the Middle to Control the flow of the game inside and then you can move Al Jefferson(Stud player, nobody is talking about) to the 4 spot and have Kedrick Perkins and Ryan Gomes coming off the bench.

The point position is where I'd fill in with a Veteran besides having Rondo and Telfair (if he's not traded)

But we need a big man badly to level the pressure off Jefferson and that would help a big need with Jefferson and Oden at the 4 & 5.

Connect With Me

Quickish

About This Blog

DanShanoff.com is a sports-blog spin-off of my long-time ESPN.com column, "The Daily Quickie." Anchored by an early-morning post of must-know topics, the blog is updated frequently throughout the day with new posts and user comments.